In this whirlwind series, M. C. Beaton brings us spirited, independent women who are bewitching, beguiling, and determined to make their mark on the world.

Blessed with beauty, Mrs. Manners never bothered with the lesser skills of grammar and spelling. So, in order to entrap a second husband, namely the dashing Duke of Denbigh, she needed Miss Verity Bascombe. Surely the modest chit would be honored to write her love letters.

Poor Verity! Her old schoolmate was as selfish as ever. The lovely girl's gilded pen soon had the duke most intrigued by the poetic Mrs. Manners!

But alas, what began as a tiny deception became troublesome indeed—for Verity soon found herself enamored by the handsome duke!